Billy the Greyhound

Greyhound racing in the UK has been controversial for decades, mainly because of the treatment of these magnificent animals. Allegations of mistreatment whilst training and their abandonment when they retire have always left a bad taste. Despite the concerns about animal welfare, the sport has flourished, and within there have always been some great characters who care passionately about their dogs. One such individual was Jack, along with his two daughters, Anna and Maria.

Two of the venues in the 50s and the 60s were Wembley and Park Royal Stadiums, and Jack held records with his dogs at both places. Billy was the favourite to win the Greyhound Derby one year, but it was believed at the time that he had been nobbled (drugged), and sadly Billy was never quite the same afterwards and eventually retired.

When retirement beckons, new homes are needed, but sadly most people wrongly assume that greyhounds need lots of exercise. It’s just not true. They are the laziest canines on the planet; a Yorkshire Terrier has more energy. Your average greyhound is happy to sleep the clock around. If sleeping was a class at Crufts, the greyhound entrants would win every year. The greyhound will be happy with two 20-minute walks a day; the majority happily cohabit with cats, are gentle with children and are generally maintenance-free.

Sometime after this incident, Billy went to live with Molly Redpath, a legendary figure in the world of ex-racing greyhounds. Molly, disturbed by the number of greyhounds who needed a safe retirement home started her own kennels where these majestic canines could see out their remaining years amongst their own kind. Jack and the girls visited BIlly a number of times over the years, he was pleased to see them, but such was the environment In which he was living. He wasn’t distressed either to see them leave. Basically, Molly ran a kind of Greyhound Utopia, which is still In existence and run by her descendants.

Nowadays, anyone looking to rescue an ex-racing greyhound should contact The Greyhound Trust

A kind and gentle soul

Billy was benign in nature and non-confrontational in any way, however, whilst being exercised one day, he was attacked by a Golden Retriever and his tail was badly damaged, but far worse was the physiological damage. Although the vet repaired the physical damage Billy never forgot what had happened and just became increasingly agitated if he got too close to another dog. It became so bad that even when Billy travelled in the car, which in those days was a Mini Countryman estate car he was obliged to wear a head scarf which was pulled down over his eyes by Anna or Maria if a dog was anywhere to be seen ( no seatbelts in those days).  It seems that the only canine that Billy tolerated was the life-size collection box for the charity Guide Dogs for the Blind that sat outside the village shop!!

It was a Sunday. On the day in question, Jack and his daughter Maria were on Oxshott Heath exercising Billy. Like most of his kind, despite his lazy and idle preferences, he did like a good “gallop” or, to use the modern vernacular a “zoomie.”

With nobody about, Jack decided that he would let Billy off the lead, and Billy took full advantage of his freedom to run. A greyhound in full flight is something to behold, ears flat against the skull, running at top speed, continually changing direction without any effort. It really is poetry in motion. Suddenly Billy dived off in a different direction and disappeared. He reappeared a short time later, and Jack and Maria stared in disbelief at the sight that greeted them. There was Billy trotting happily towards them, carrying something very large in his mouth. It turned out to be a bulldog!! Yes, a British Bulldog. Billy appeared to be rather pleased with himself, stood stock still and waited to be told what to do next. The Bulldog hung there patiently, waiting for whatever fate was to befall him. The poor creature showed no sign of damage despite being held firmly by the scruff. Only two things saved the unfortunate Bulldog that day. First was his weight.  An adult male Bulldog can weigh up to 55lbs (25k), so his sheer size made it impossible for Billy to shake him despite a greyhound being an incredibly powerful dog. The second was that the captive creature made no attempt to resist. A quiet word from Jack was enough for Billy to drop the unfortunate Bulldog and give it a malevolent glare prompting the stunned canine to depart as fast as its bandy legs would carry it. Jack quickly placed Billy back on the lead, and all three hurriedly departed the heath in the hope that the whole episode had not been witnessed.

So if you are reading this, were you on Oxshott Heath on a Sunday in the Autumn of 1968 with a Bulldog who briefly disappeared and returned shortly in a rather dishevelled condition and somewhat subdued state of mind?

Well, now you know!!